There is near unanimity that the condition of our state’s roads is in serious decline. However, there is debate as to why. Our roads are an asset, and as with most assets their condition can be measured by numbers.

What follows are figures that must be considered to make South Carolina’s roads and bridges as safe and smooth as they were a generation ago.

S.C. Taxes and Fees

u South Carolina ranks No. 4 among 50 states in miles of state-maintained roads with 41,460 miles

This is a partial response to Sandy McGarry’s article, “Local voters have clear choice in solicitor’s race,” in the Aug. 31 edition of The Lancaster News.

Ms. McGarry states that her candidate, Randy Newman, is a “passionate” prosecutor. This implies to me that he is a “soft” prosecutor who would not waste time indicting criminals, but let them go on “probation” to free up the backlog of pending criminal cases in our 6th Circuit.

With the new school year, parents’ attention is turning to school lunches. Traditionally, then U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) had used the National School Lunch Program as a dumping ground for surplus meat and dairy commodities.

Children consumed animal fat and sugary drinks, to the point where one-third have became overweight or obese. Their early dietary flaws became lifelong addictions, raising their risk of diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

Each year in America, texting drivers cause more than 100,000 automobile crashes resulting in death or life-changing injuries.

At AT&T, we are serious about wanting consumers to enjoy the benefits of wireless technology, while also using their mobile devices wisely and safely. So we launched the It Can Wait campaign, a national initiative designed to raise awareness of the dangers of texting while driving and to hopefully save lives by changing behavior.

In nearly 40 years as a lawyer, and 35 years as a law professor, I have seldom read or heard comments that demonstrated a greater lack of understanding about the American legal system than the letter from Sandy McGarry that appeared in the Aug. 31 issue of The Lancaster News.

That the letter was written by someone who is a local leader of a major political party made that lack of understanding even more disappointing.

I attended the Lancaster County Economic Development Corp. workshop on the 2015 Economic Development Strategic Plan at the City of Light on Aug. 13. There were nine of us – two County Council members, two developers, four residents and a reporter.

People I discuss this with seem to have had enough strategic planning, workshops, committees and overlays.

All the gatherings ask the same questions, talk about the same problems and the progress is zero. I know all the organizations need to justify their existence, but could you please be more creative?

“Have you driven a Ford lately?” Do you remember that catchy phrase? Some of you may be too young to have heard of it. That was when America’s economy was booming and there were plenty of jobs to go around. Now, we look for ways to invest what we have, wisely, so it will build interest and hold us over in the days to come.